Piracy Surcharges

I don't find it illogical that ocean carriers sailing in the Gulf of Aden are charging a piracy surcharge. Some of the crews sailing in this area were demanding additional wages, and the carriers must also pay higher insurance premiums.

However, the surcharges vary quite a lot by carrier, with MSC not charging at all.

This from Lloyd's List.

CMA CGM has confirmed it is one of the container lines levying a piracy surcharge to cover the risk of operating in waters where attacks are commonplace.

The French line said it applies a piracy risk surcharge of $20 per teu on its Swahili Express service that links Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique and on its on Asia-East Africa rotation between Singapore, Port Kelang, Kenya and Tanzania. Both call at Mombasa where cargo interests have vented their anger about the additional costs of shipping cargo.

But in some cases, a far higher piracy fee is in place, with Zim said to be charging $100 per teu as the Israeli line calls at the port of Djibouti.

Some lines such as Maersk and sister company Safmarine have a war risk surcharge of $25 per teu, but they usually do not charge their regular customers, according to agents.

Not every line is charging extra. Mediterranean Shipping Co said: “We have not so far introduced any piracy surcharge for vessels calling at Mombasa.”

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